General Integrated Science

Year 12

Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in My Backyard Ecosystem

My backyard is dominated by three gum trees called Eucalyptus citreodora. Many other
plants grow beneath. Some of my favourites are; kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos manglesii),
Grevillea sp, Banksia, and a Lime tree.
I regularly find snails amongst the leaves of the kangaroo paws, mealy bugs on the Lime
tree and native bees feeding on nectar in the Banksia flowers. In the mornings the flowers of
the Eucalyptus, Grevilleas, kangaroo paws and Banksia are cloaked by competing birds,
especially the Red Wattlebird and the New Holland Honeyeater. Carnabys Cockatoos and
Pink and Grey Galahs feed on the seeds of the Banksia and the Eucalyptus. Cabbage white
moths lay eggs on the leaves of the Lime tree. When the caterpillars hatch they feed on the
leaves.
I have seen the New Holland Honeyeaters catching Cabbage white moths on the wing. Willy
Wagtails have a nest in the Grevilleas and dart around all day catching native bees and
Cabbage white moths.
There are a couple of rats nests in the Neighbours Cypress Pines which hang over my
fence. I have seen empty snail shells in those rats nests. Beside the Lime tree is a compost
heap. To it I add leaves from the plants and scraps from the kitchen. It is full of writhing
earthworms and white fungus mycelia.
I keep my dogs inside at night because they bark at cats roaming free and entering my yard.
The cats kill and eat Willy Wagtails and New Holland Honeyeaters. I have found piles of
their feathers.
On cool nights when I have guests for dinner we sit outside and I light a fire in a brazier. I
use wood from the branches that fall from the Eucalyptus citreodora. I dispose of leftovers
from dinner and the ashes from the fire in the compost heap.
1) This backyard community is dependent on a constant supply of energy.
Construct a food web for the community, fitting it into the appropriate trophic levels.
2) Explain why the community requires a constant input of energy for it to be
sustainable.
3) This food web is dependent on the recycling of key nutrient elements, such as
Carbon, between the members of the community and the abiotic environment.
Describe the major processes by which carbon is recycled in this system, and
explain why recycling is necessary.
4) Explain the effects on the food web if the Cats were removed from the community.

Catherine Morritt for DET Western Australia